Method for producing cones from a fibrous pulp suspension



Jan. 1 5, 1957 D. F. EDNl-:LL 2,777,367

METHOD FOR PRODUCING CONES FROM A FIBROUS PULP SUSPENSION Filed June 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet l FgcZ INVENTOR. J/bl, FPEOlP/K EDN'ELL TTORNEVS l Jan. 15, 1957 D. F. EDNELL 2,777,367

METHOD FOR PRODUCING CONES FROM A FIBROUS PULP SUSPENSION Filed June 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. l M4N/5L FREOP/K EIYELL 75M@ )ga/Lia A T'ORNEYJ D. F. EDNELL Jan. 15, 1957 METHOD FOR PRODUCING CONES FROM A FIBROUS PULP SUSPENSION Filed June 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToR.

` miv/5L FRE//K ED/VELL ATTORNEYS Jan. 15, 1957 D. F. EDNELL 2,777,367 METHOD FOR PROOUOING cONEs FROM A FIBROUS PULP SUSPENSION Filed June 2, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Figc 6' IN VEN TOR.

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METHOD FOR PRODUCING CONES FROM A FIBROUS PULP SUSPENSION Daniel FredrikEdnell, Ed,$weden Application June 2, 1954, SerialNo. A434,019

This invention relates to conesy or similar carriers for storing or transferring yarn or thread, and more particularly to an improved method and. means for producing a product of this type from `a pulp suspension.

In the usual commercial product-ion of textile cones, cops or tubes, it has been customary to form these products by winding a sheet of paper or paperboard on a suitably shaped mandrel using an adhesive fory bonding together the several wound paper plies that form the iin-1 ished product. This,'of course, contemplates prior manufacture of the paper on a paper machine, involving substantialexpense and largey scale papermaking operations.

It has been attempted heretofore tol simplify this manufa'cturing operation by molding the cones directly from I a fibrous pulp suspension and thereby avoid the necessity of forming and conforming' a paper sheet, but these prior attempts have not been commercially successful. The molded cones produced thereby, did not compare'favorably with the above-mentionedY wound' paper cones, particularly from the standpoints of uniformity of wal1thiclness, regularity in shape, and strength. AThe method and machine of this invention overcomes especially these three limitations or disadvantages that have characterizedi the prior products and for the first time in this industry produces molded cones that compare favorably with the conventional wound paper cones. v

This long desired result has been obtained principally through the employment of a combination of specialimo tions imparted to the formers on which the pulp is'deposited while the formers are immersed in-` the pulp sus-` pension. This combination of motions, which; particularly characterizes the present invention, comprises a reciprocating vertical motion and a reversing arcuate motion, or .t-w`ist motion, of the cone formers through a limited arc. This arc is usually lessthany and in a typical commercial operation an arc of 'about' l"0 to 15 has proven very satisfactory. The ,arcuate movement of ,the cone former may be reversed at a relatively lhigh rate such as, for example, about 200 to 300 cycles per'minute. A usual reversing frequency for this motion is about 250 cycles per minute. The amplitude of stroke of thev ver-.

tical motion is usually` less than one inch and in a typical commercial operation an adjustable stroke of 1;/4" to s/s has proven very satisfactory. vAn amplitude of vertical stroke of more than l may be required foi-"some articles.v

The lfrequency of the vertical"motion may vary from about to 5 00 cycles per minute.v

These controlled vertical and arcuate motions ofthe cone former deposit the pulp fibers in sucha form as to impart substantial strength to the cone when it is pressed and dried, and make it possible to produce f cones consistently of regular shape and of good uniform wall lthickness.

twist and vertical motions will allow vup to 25% weight variation inthe farticlefbeingp formed. Thisv is necessary in a commercial application to allow for stock Adjustment-s on frequency and amplitude oftboththe p 2,777,367 Paten-ted Jan. 15, 1957 ice furnish variations and to give accurate weight control where weight is critical.

The composition of the suspension from which the cones are formed. islikewise of practical importance in producing a product of desired properties, and I have found thatv the following composition will produce very desirable properties in the molded product.

As Will be noted from the above formula, the newsprintor'similar short fiber pulp constitutes the main constituent in the' composition. In addition to these relatively shortl cellulosic fibers, it is also important to provide in the" composition an amount of longer cellulose fibers such4 as, for example, kraft pulp bers, to impart strength' to the molded product. The proportions between: the long and short fiber pulp can be varied substantially and will depend principally on the desired strength in the finished product. Where higher strength is to be-obtained,.th`e proportion of long fiber pulp is proportionatelyzincreased.

The resinousA constituent, such as, for example, urea formaldehyde resin, serves the purpose of abonding and strengthening agent. This resin is in the form of an aqueous solution or suspension, which is miscible with the'water yand other'constituents, and becomes effective on baking of the molded products at elevated temperatures, such as200 F. to-450 F.

The starch component serves as an additional bonding agent, andv whilel potato starch: has been found to give very satisfactory results, other root or cereal starches may be used, e.,g., corn, wheat, cmssava, etc.

l The talc used in this composition serves principally as a filler, and other iller materials, such as', for example, calcium carbonate, couldbe used in place of the talc.

Depending upon the type of resinousv material used, the alum component may or may not be employed. It is used principallyv as a catalyst for the urea formaldehyde resin.

As indicated above, the percentages given in the fore'- going exampleV can be. varied substantially tov meet the specified requirements of strength, weight, etc. of the finished product. However, the specific proportions given in the abovev formula have proven very satisfactory and of definite advantage in commercial production of the moldedpulp cones.

Regarding. the consistency of the stock or furnish from which the pulp cones are formed, it is usually about 21/4%, that is,y an aqueous suspension iny which the solid materials constitute approximately 2%% by weight, and this consistency can be varied from about 2% to 3%.

- The stock suspensionis of sufficient fluidity to permit effective use of the above-described combination of twist motion and vertical reciprocating motion of the formers in the stock, and at the same time containing sufficient solids content to provide the desired deposit of the stock on the cone formers while they are immersed in the stock,

the stock being drawn onto the cone formers by suction,

in Fig. 1 as it appears in the course of formation from a pulp suspension;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the driving means for effecting the reversing arcuate motion and reciprocating vertical motion of the formers, only one of which is shown;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, partly in section, of apparatus for forming a textile cone, such as is shown in Fig. l, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a right end elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a further right end elevation illustrating the operation of the apparatus for removing and shaping textile cones initially formed in and from a pulp suspension; and

Fig. 7 is another right end elevation showing the manner in which finished textile cones are delivered from the apparatus to complete a cycle of operation.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a textile cone 10 of a type that has been formed successfully according to the present invention with excellent uniformity in wall thickness, regularity in shape, and fully adequate strength. The textile cone 10 is shown in Fig. 1 formed with a smooth tip or nose 12, and a remaining winding surface 14 that is configurated for retaining7 yarn windings thereon. A wide variety is possible in the `characteristics of the winding surface 14 produced on the textile cone 10 according to the present invention, and the showing in Fig. 1 is only representative in this respect. Alternatively, the winding surface 14 may be made entirely smooth, have the configurations thereon restricted in extent, or have the size and aggressiveness of the configurations varied, as desired.

In Fig. 2, there is represented at 11 the deposit from a pulp suspension on a former 16 as the first step in forming a textile cone 10 such as -is shown in Fig. 1. The former 16 comprises a reticulated mandrel having a shank 18 through which a suction may be impressed to draw fibers from a pulp suspension onto the reticulated surface of the former 16 to obtain the deposit 11, and at which shank 18 the former 16 may also be mounted for reciprocating vertical motion and reversing arcuate motion during formation of the deposit 11 in accordance with the present invention, as previously mentioned. The reciprocating vertical motion and reversing arcuate motion are indicated by the arrows shown on the 'shank 18 in Fig. 2.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown one of the cone formers 16 arranged on a mounting rail 28 which has an upwardly formed leg portion 30 reaching to a sleeve bearing 32 disposed on a vertical guide rod 34 supported by a frame structure so that the mounting rail 28 and former 16 thereon may be lowered into and raised from the pulp suspension (not shown) in the course ofioperating the apparatus as explained below.

The above mentioned vertical reciprocating mot-ion for the former 16, while in the pulp suspension, is obtained through a follower roll 36 arranged on the sleeve bearing 32 to ride an eccentric 38 driven by a shaft 40 when the mounting rail 28 with former 16 thereon is lowered into the pulp suspension.

At the same time the reversing arcuate motion, above described, of the former 16, is obtained by mountingthe shank 18 thereof rotatably on the mounting rail 28 with a pivot arm 42 fixed on the shank 18 and connected at its extending end through a pivot pin 44 to an actuating rod 46 that is reoiprocated from a lug 48 thereon through a yoke arm 50 at the lower end of a vertical shaft 52 which has a second yoke arm 54 at its upper end to engage a crank pin 56 rotated from a driven shaft 58.

This arrangement allows the reciprocating vertical motion and reversing arcuate motion of the former 16 to take place simultaneously but independently of the frequency and amplitude of each other and thereby permits fifi adjustment of the simultaneous motions to the best advantage for each.

It will be understood from the foregoing and from the description to follow that the illustration in Fig. 3 has been simplified for the purpose of showing and describing the characteristic motions of only one of the cone formers and that a commercial production machine may employ any desired number of these cone formers. The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 shows five of these cone formers.

Referring to Fig. 4, the arrangement and operation described above in connection with Fig. 3 is substantially the same except for illustration of a plurality of the cone formers and associated mechanisms and the details of which are as follows:

The apparatus shown in Fig. 4 comprises a frame structure 20 having a tank 22 or other reservoir means arranged thereon for containing a pulp suspension as indicated at 24. The tank 22 is fitted with suitable agitating means 26 for maintaining the pulp suspension 24 therein uniformly dispersed. The suspension is agitated just prior to immersion of the cone formers therein and the agitation discontinued while the formers are immersed. lt may also be arranged with supply and drainage connections (not shown) for automatic filling of the tank 22 duringV operation of the apparatus if desired.

A plurality, e. g., five, of the previously mentioned formers 16 are arranged on the common mounting rail 28 which'is connected to a drive arrangement at each side, with connections to each as shown, so that the mounting rail 28 and tive formers 16 thereon may be lowered into and raised from the pulp suspension 24 in the course of operating the apparatus as will be explained further presently. The above mentioned vertical reciprocating motion for the formers 16 while in the pulp suspension 24 may be obtained effectively through a duplication of the driving means illustrated in Fig. 3, and the reversing arcuate motion of the former 16 obtained by the me chanical arrangement and operation described in connection with Fig. 3 above, and which is shown in Fig. 4 with suitable adaptations to operate five of the pulp formers.

It has previously been mentioned that suction is applied to the formers 16 to deposit fibers thereon from the pulp suspension 24, and Fig. 5 indicates suction connections at for this purpose, and shows the formers 16 lowered into the pulp suspension 24 to have a deposit of pulp fibers formed thereon. It should also be noted that at this stage `in Hthe operation of the apparatus a previously formed textile cone has been advanced to a spindle 62 at a cutting station arranged with a belt drive 64 to rotate the spindle 62 and a cutting disc 66 that may be applied to trim and thereby finish the lower edge of the textile cone 10 on the spindle 62.

Fig. 6 shows the mounting rail 28 raised from the pulp suspension to introduce the deposits of fibers on the formers within pressing heads 68 that may be arranged in any suitable manner, as with resilient linings actuated from a pressure connection as indicated at 70 to press the pulp fiber deposits on the formers and thereby shape them regularly and with a uniform wall thickness, and to express liquid therefrom sufciently to render the pulp fiber deposits self-sustaining in the form of textile cones.

The pressing heads 68 are carried on an overhead slide 72 which also carries handling fingers 74 arranged to be in position for lowering to remove a textile cone 10 after trimming from the cutting station spindle 62 while the pulp fiber deposits are being shaped in the pressing heads 68.

Fig. 7 shows the mounting rail 28 lowered into the pulp suspension 24 again for formation of further pulp fiber deposits on the formers 16, while the overhead slide 72 is advanced to allow the previously formed pulp fiber deposits that have just been pressed and shaped in the pressing heads 68 to be ejected therefrom onto the cutting stationspindles 62 `for trimming, and at the same time deliver onto a discharge table as at 76 the finished textile cones 10 that have previously been picked up from the cutting station spindles 62 by the handling fingers 74. The cones 10 are now ready for drying and baking at a suitable elevated temperature, as mentioned above.

This invention has been described in detail above for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limited by this description or otherwise except as defined in the appended claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 403,353, tiled January l1, 1954, now abandoned.

I claim:

1. The method of forming textile cones or other articles from a brous pulp suspension, which method comprises providing a pool of the pulp suspension from which said articles are to be formed, immersing in said pool a conical reticulated surface proportioned in relation to the size of articles to be formed, vapplying suction interiorly of said reticulated surface, and reciprocating vertically said surface with respect to its longitudinal axis and simultaneously imparting a reversing arcuate vibratory motion about said axis while completely immersed in said pulp suspension.

lan amplitude of about 1A to 1".

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,551,257 Little Aug. 25, 1925 1,673,047 Hawley June 12, 1928 1,984,018 Hawley Dec. 11, 1934 2,045,163 Raflles June 23, 1936 2,195,240 Chaplin et al Mar. 26, 1940 2,273,373 Perry Feb. 17, 1942 2,384,958 Pare Sept. 18, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 485,451 France May 12, 1917 

